Lefty Escalona finding his place in Astros’ bullpen

Sergio Escalona entered the major leagues in 2009 at age 24. Having dreamed of such an event growing up in Venezuela, he figured he’d truly arrived.

“I was like, ‘I did it. I got to the big leagues.’ That was my goal,” Escalona said. “I was wrong.”

His work ethic sagged, and he spent the 2010 season at the Philadelphia Phillies’ Class AA Reading affiliate. He described his attitude as “bad,” punctuated with glove-throwing outbursts. This past January, the Phillies traded Escalona to the Astros for minor league infielder Albert Cartwright.

“I’ll never say that was fun,” Escalona said. “It was a different year. Get to the big leagues, then come back to the minor leagues. I learned so much from that.”

The lefthanded Escalona should have a long, prosperous stay if he can keep up the form he has showed since a May 10 promotion from Class AAA Oklahoma City. He entered Friday night’s game against the Dodgers with a 1-0 record and a 1.59 ERA in 20 appearances spread over 111⁄3 innings. He has limited lefthanded batters to a .095 batting average (2-for-21, with both hits singles).

“He’s getting outs,” Astros manager Brad Mills said. “But it’s how he’s getting those outs. He’s been able to throw strikes with both his fastball and his breaking ball. He’s been able to keep those lefthanded hitters off-balance, so he’s getting them out.”

Escalona works mostly off a 90-mph fastball, mixing in a breaking pitch about a third of the time.

Astros catcher Carlos Corporan described him this way: “He reminds me of Bud Norris. He’s a power pitcher. He challenges people.”

Escalona, for his part, said he’s happy to have arrived again, to have another chance to get it right.

“It’s amazing how this year has gone so far,” Escalona said. “I pray every day and say, ‘Thank God for this opportunity.’ ”

Diminutive minor league second baseman Jose Altuve continues to receive raves throughout the Astros organization. The 5-7 Venezuelan earned a promotion to high Class A Lancaster after batting .408 in 213 plate appearances this season. In his first 15 games at Class AA Corpus Christi, Altuve, 21, batted .393 and slugged .689.

“Everybody who has gone through and seen Altuve over the last couple months all come away with the same thought: This guy has a chance to fast-track to the big leagues,” Astros general manager Ed Wade said. “All you have to do is walk past his height. He’s not as big, but he reminds me a lot of (Phillies infielder and career .303 hitter) Placido Polanco with the game he plays. Plus, he can run really well. We all think the world of Altuve.”

Odds and ends

Astros center fielder Michael Bourn didn’t get the start against Dodgers lefthander Ted Lilly on Friday and was replaced by Jason Bourgeois. Astros manager Brad Mills said he simply wanted to give Bourn, who had experienced some sort of digestive illness a couple days earlier, a night off. … First baseman Brett Wallace entered Friday having reached safely in 11 of his last 14 plate appearances (5-for-8, six walks.)